Nagaland hosts the much-awaited 3rd North East Games (NEG) 2024 which commenced with a splendid opening ceremony at the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence (RCSE), Sovima, Chümoukedima, on Monday. The NE games 2024 will conclude on March 23.
Addressing players and officials from the eight North Eastern states at the inaugural opening ceremony held late evening Monday at the RCSE Sovima, Chümoukedima, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the president of the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), reemphasised on the unifying power of sports and underscoring its ability to bring people together.
He commended the North East Sports Association (NESA) for providing a common platform to the eight states to unite and showcase their sporting prowess. Rio also expressed the hope that the participants will one day bring glory not only to their respective states, but also to the entire north-eastern region and the nation.
He also noted the region’s abundant human resources, talent pool, and natural resources while also acknowledging the challenges by connectivity issues.
In this regard, Rio lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to address these challenges and emphasising on the imperative of developing the Northeast for the overall progress of India. Quoting Modi, he said “India will develop only if North East also develops”.
Rio also mentioned the Northeast’s significant contribution to the nation in the sports arena. In this regard, he cited statistics which show that while the entire population of the region comprised only 3.1% of the country’s total population, yet its people comprised 6.72% of the country’s sports contingent at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016.
Rio said this was a testament of how the Northeast could contribute to the nation’s growth and its potential to propel India’s growth story through sporting achievements.
He also cited the unresolved “Indo-Naga political issues” as among the factors that posed challenges on the state in different sectors, including sports.
While expressing gratitude for the privilege of hosting the event, Rio extended warm welcome to all participants on behalf of the state government and wished all participants a memorable experience.
A short speech was delivered on the occasion by NESA president Dr Th Radheshyam. He thanked Nagaland for great hospitality and the chief minister and the governments of all the eight north-eastern states for the support rendered towards the development of games and sports in the region.
He encouraged the athletes by stressing that participation was equally as important as winning and losing, while wishing luck to all sportspersons. He appealed the state governments of the remaining states to take the baton of hosting the next North East Games.
Earlier, welcome address and introductory speech was delivered by organizing secretary NEG 2024, working president NE Sports Association and vice president of Athletics Federation of India, Abu Metha, while oath taking was administered by Kitenlo K. Thono, who recently won the gold medal at the 37th National Games held in Goa. The programme began with the invocation song ‘Bless us, O Lord’ by the Cantamus choir.
Host of officials from various NE states Olympic associations, dignitaries and well-wishers attended the opening ceremony.
Highlights of the opening ceremony included performances, cultural songs, dances and presentation, by various cultural groups under TaFMA.
Players complain of cramped accommodation
Meanwhile, several participating team members of some states have expressed deep disappointment at the lodging facilities provided at the venue, notably a section of the Lawn tennis and a few other players. Though they were all praise for the food, they were visibly upset that some 20 to 30 of them had to sleep in a cramped-up space under a weather that is becoming hot and humid by the day.
The players said they could not enjoy peace nor privacy in a dormitory-like room. One of them also expressed concern about the safety of their personal gears and kits.
In order to alleviate their suffering, tennis players from some states have opted to relocate themselves to alternative lodging on their own arrangement.
Some of them told this Reporter that they decided to shift to a more conducive environment that would allow them adequate rest between matches.
Another player, also speaking anonymously, expressed hope that their respective State Tennis Association would step in to alleviate the financial burden of securing alternative lodging.
Furthermore, an official associated with the event said though some players may be facing issues while most of the participants of other sports had no issues with accommodations.